Folding car-step.



Ilm-741,486. y PATENTED 00T. A13, 1903.

A.P.GUNN.

FOLDING CAR STEP. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3o, 1903.

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l UNITED STATES resented october 13,1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALAN PERCY eUNN, on BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.'k

FOLDING CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 741,486, dated October 13, 1903.

Appleman tied nach so. 190s.

T @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALAN PERcY GUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing'at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and usefulFolding Car-Step, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to carsteps, and more particularly to an extension car-step, the object being to provide an ad! ditional step whereby ingress and egress from the car are facilitated,as it frequently happens that the car stops at a point 'where the ordinary step is a considerable distance above the ground, and if the car were ordinarily. equipped with a low projecting step the bottom step would encounter various objectssuch as switch-stands, station-platforms, and the like-and it is with the object of providing a step which can be brought into use when desired and folded when not in use.

With this object in view the invention consists, essentially, in hinging a supplemental step to the lower end of a series'of steps, providing said step with ak spring for normally closing said step, and also in providing steam or air operated pistons for theI purpose of lowering the said step when desired.

` The invention consists, also, in certain details of construction and novelties of combination, all of which will be fully described hereinafter andipointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this speciication, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the practical application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view illustrating the supplemental step in a lowered position.` Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the'supplemental step in a raised or folded position, and Fig. 1 is a detail plan View showing the pipe connections. l

lReferring to the drawings, A indicates the ordinary steps connected to a platform of a steam'or electric coach or car, and pivotally connected to the'lower end of the seriesis a supplemental step B. Springs C are arranged in connection with the hinged or pivotal connection and are adapted to normally hold the supplemental step B raised or closed, as shown in Fig. 3. For the purpose of lowering and holding the supplemental step lowered I employ pistons D, which work in the curved tubes E, said pistons having thesenai No. 150,288. (No man.)

curvedrods F connected thereto passing through openings F in the riser of the bottom step, the outer ends of these rods being rigidly secured to the outer ends of the supplemental step', as shown at F2. Connected to the curved tubes E are thepipes G, which convey air or steam to thetubes E, which air Aor steam operating upon the pistons D will force the said pistons upwardly, projecting the piston-rods outwardly and downwardly,-

thereby lowering the supplemental step and 'holdingit lowered so long as theair or steam Apressure is maintained in the tubes.

Air or steam is conveyed to the pipes Gfromthe -train-pipe H, and a suitable connection H',

having a valve H2, may be provided. When the car is moving, the step is held folded, as shown in Fig. 3; but when the car stops steam or air pressure is applied to the tube E, operati ing upon the pistons, which force the piston rods outwardly and lower the supplemental step and hold it lowered until the pressure is relieved. The moment pressure is relieved the springs will return the step to its normal or folded position.

It will thus be seen that I provide an exceedingly cheap, simple, and efficient con struction of supplemental car-step which will fully carry out all of the purposesh'ereinbefore referred to.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, `is4` v1. vIn combination with a folding carstep, curvedtubes on the rear of said step, curved lrods secured to the step and sliding in the tubes, pistons on the inner ends of said rods, means for admitting fluid under. pressure to said tubes, and means for. folding the step when such pressure is removed.

2. The combination with a series of steps,

of a supplemental step hinged thereto, the springs for normally holding the su ppleniental stepelevated, curved'tubes connected to the lower portion of the series of steps, the

,pistons working in said tubes, piston -rods IOO of a riser depending from the bottoni step, a. supplemental step hinged to the lower end of said riser, springs for normally holding the said supplemental step folded against the riser, the curved tubes connected to the inner face of the riser, pipes attached to the inner ends of the tubes, pistons Working in the tubes, piston-rods connected to the pistons, and passing through the riser and connected it their outer ends to the outer ends Io of the supplemental step, the pipes connected to the curved tubes being connected with the train-pipe, substantially as described.

ALAN PERCY GUNN.

Witnesses:

STEWART BROWN, THos. KELL BRADFORD. 

